Stalk-cutter.



L. E. WATERMAN.

STA LK CUTTER. APPLICATION FILED APR. 1?. 19,14.

1,150,236. I Patented Aug. 17,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH COuV/ASHINGTON, D. C,

L. E. WATERMAN.

STALK CUTTER. APPLICATION FILED APR. 17. 19M.

1,150,236. Patented Aug. 17,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UMMM/ WW COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH'COUWASHINGTON. D. c.

isoase.

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LEWIS E.WA'1ERMA1\T, or ncoxr onn, ILLINOIS, AssIeNon r0 EMERsON-BRANTINGHAM oolviramaor nooxronn, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

STALK-CUTTER.

Application filed April 17, 1914. Serial o. 832,571;

Toall whom it may concern: Y

1 vacitizen of the United States, residing at Rockford, in the county of Winnebago andthe State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stalk-Gutters, of which the following is a specification. r

This invention'rela-testo agricultural im plements known as stalk cutters It is an object of my invention to coin struct an improved stalk cutting implement in which is mounted upon and relatively fixed to a frame which carries the'operator, one or more rotary wheel-like cutters; and further, provide carrying wheels for'said frame movable vertically relative thereto to carry when they are in a lowered position the cutters elevated above the ground and when they are in a raised position to allow the cutters to rest upon the ground and in themselves carry'the frame and operator.

A further object is to provide a novel means for raising and lowering the carrying Wheels relative to the frame, and such means that will be locked automatically in position when moved to either their raised" or lowered position.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my. improved stalk cutter, one of the cutter guardsbeing removed to illustrate the mounting of the cutter upon the frame. Fig. 2is a side elevational view of the stalk cutter as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the carrying wheels being shown lowered whereby the cutters are in an inoperative position. Fig. 31is an enlarged view of the near side of the implement shown in Fig. 2, the wheels being in a raised position and the wheels and cuttersbeing shown diagrammatically.

' 3 A. frame is formed bya cross-bar shaving two vU-sections 5 fixedly attached there to and being spaced apart with their arms 6 extending in the direction of travel of the "frame, tongues 7 attached tomembers 1 and -5, and brace-bars 8 connecting the two U- sections. At the rear end of each-arm 6 is fixedly attached a"journa'l bearing '10, in

each of which is journaled a stub axlell,

and mounted upon'each axleis a wheel-like cutter frame 12, the spoke-like members-of Beit known that I, LEWIs E. ,WATERMAN,

poses.

the frames of each U-section being con- 16 has one angled end thereof forming the axle of the wheel 1 1 and its other end pivotally connected to the frame at 17 in such a manner that the wheel lies opposite the outer end of a cutter and is swingable upon pivot 17 vertically relative to the frame and cutter.

19 is pivoted at 20 on a horizontal crossframe axis to a bracket 21 fixedly attached to the end of an'outer arm 6, the axis of A bell-crank lever having a relatively long handle-arm 18 and a short arm pivot 20 and of the axle of wheel 14: being substantially in a common vertical plane. A link 21 is connected pivotally at one end to the end of the bell-crank arm 19 and at its other endat 23 to a bracket on the axle end of the crank arm 16, the link being disposed on the outer side of the bell-crank, whereby upon swinging the bell-crank the wheel will be moved vertically. As shown in Fig. 2 the bell-crank is in a position with the wheel 15 lowered, and the link 21 and arm 19 being substantiallyfin alinement a coiled spring 2 1 connectedat one end to the frame and at its other end to a member 25 pivotally mounted on the end 22 of link 21 exerts tension on said link and arm to move the joint 22 forward of a line'connecting the pivots 20 and 23, whereupon the weight of the frame and cutter which is gravitated from pivot 20 wouldswing the pivot 22 causing the frame to drop but for the stop 26 which is contacted by the handle 18, thereby forming a toggle look through the members 18,19 and 21 and maintaining the cutter and frame elevated and the implement in an inoperative working but a riding position.

To raise the carrying-wheel andlower the cutter to the ground the handle 18 would be swung forward of the machine until its I as outer end'rested upon and was stopped by the frame member 27, such position belng shown in Fig. 3; and in this posltlon the pivot 22 will have moved forward of a line V V.

pivoted at '1 oneend to the armfand at its opposite end to abarrying -wheel member,

connecting-the centers 20 and 23 thereby es? tablishing a toggle lock, since the weight of the wheel will hold the lock. The spring 2% f also holds the lever 18 from being displaced by vibration of the implement, thus preio venting the toggle from breaking.

It will be noticed that both operative positions of the several parts are maintained locked respectively-by a common mechanism which looks in a toggle at each position, and

that the spring 2% cooperates substantially in effecting and maintaining these locks.

l/Vhen the machine is in operative posi-' tion, the wheels raised as in Fig. 1, the cutters rest and roll upon the ground when the frame is drawn, the blades of the cutters eifectingthe cutting of the stalks, the stalks being drawn into the path of the cutters by hooks (not shown) located in advance of the cutters, as is well understood in the art.

25 It will be noted that by the cutters resting'directly upon the ground-and carrying the combined weight of the frame, wheels and operator, very efficient cutting may be assured; and considering also the nature of 80 the work of this implement, theincessant vibration set up, it will be seen that the cutters are very sturdily mounted by being directwith the frame, and the structure withal combining'also-the locking features of the wheels is rendered very substantial and eflicient for its use. i

. I claim as my invention:

1. The combination-ofa frame, a crankarm pivoted at one end to; the frame on a horizontal axis so that, its free end is swing- "able vertically with respect to the frame, a carrying-wheel mounted on saidfree end of the cranlearm, a lever pivoted to the frame, and a connection between the lever and said crank-arm, said lever being pivotal toswing the crank-arm vertically to predetermined raised and lowered positions, the lever and its connection with the crank-arm being so arranged and constructed that by operation of the lever to move the carrying wheel to both of said positions, the carrying-wheel will be automatically'locked therein.

2. The combination of a frame, a crankarm pivoted to the frame on a horizontal 55 axis so that its free end is swingable vertically with respect to-the frame, a carrying-- wheel mounted on said free end of the crank-arm, and means for swinging said arm vertically to move said wheel to prede- 69 termined raised and lowered positions, and a single locking means for automatically locking the crank-arm in bothof saidpositions, said locking means including a spring so arranged as to hold the said means from being displaced from its locking positions.

3. In an agricultural implement, the combination with aframe, of a carrying-wheel therefor movable vertically relatively there to, an'arm pivoted to a frame member, alink said arm frame-pivot and link wheel-pivot I being spaced apart vertically in a substantially vertical plane, the wheel being movable verticallyby rocking of said arm and pivotis out of alinement with the said verti:

cal plane pivots; 7

Fl. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a frame, of a carrying-wheel therefor movable vertically relatively there,- ,35 to, an armpivoted to a frame member, a link pivoted at one end to the arm and at its opposite end to a carrying-wheel memher, said arm frame-pivot andlink wheelpivot being spaced apart vertically in a sub;- 9 stantially vertical plane, the, wheel being movable vertically by rocking of said arm and saidarm being rockable to carry its link pivot' above and belowits framezpivot thereby to effect a raised and lowered position 951 of the carrying wheel, means for limiting rocking movement of said arm when its link pivot isjout of alinementwith thesaid vertical plane pivots, in' both thersaidraised and lowered positions and at a common side of said pivots, and means for yieldingly holding said arm link-pivot out of said crank pivoted to. the frame, a single toggle 7 connection between the frame and crank in: eluding one of the. arms of said bell-crank, said connection being toggled' to maintain the crank in both raised and lowered set positions with respect to the frame. T

7. The combination of a frame/carrying wheels movable vertically with respect thereto, a ground engaging device mounted on the 7 frame, and means: for raising the carrying wheels with respect tothe fr ame to a posi} tion ,vvherein said ground-engaging means will reston the ground and thewheels will i be held elevated abovethe ground, and vice versa, said means including'a device'for automatically locking the wheelsin raised and 10s 7 crank pivotally connectedthereto with its 7 V lowered positions upon the wheels being moved to the same, the locking being effected by the weight of the wheels when the same are elevated and by the weight ofthe ground engaging means and the frame when the wheels are lowered. a

8. The combination of a frame, carryingwheels movable vertically with respect thereto, and means for raising and lowering the carrying-wheels with respectto the frame, said means including a single toggle-lock so arranged that the wheels will be auto matically locked in both raised and lowered positions upon being moved to the same.

9. The combination of a frame,carrying wheels mounted thereon to move vertically with respect thereto, means for toggle-locking the Wheels in both raisedand lowered positions upon the wheels being moved to the same, and means for resiliently holding LEWIS E. WATERMAN.

Witnesses:

N. F. LEVINGS, R. A. HEMENWAY.

Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

